The Little Mermaid on the Tonys- Page 2

[taylorPHENOMENON2]

Posted: 6/16/08 at 11:29am

It's kind of sad that such a visually pleasing show was so mundane and dry. I have never seen the show or any videos, so the tail was annoying and incredibly distracting. I didn't enjoy anyone in that segment.

[CurtainPullDowner]

Posted: 6/16/08 at 12:26pm

If you haven't seen the show or any videos, how do you know it is visually pleasing?
The design elements got terible reviews, the colors are nauseating.
U tube used to have some numbers and they were darn ugly.

[LePetiteFromage]

Posted: 6/16/08 at 12:29pm

Updated On: 5/3/09 at 12:29 PM

[CurtainPullDowner]

Posted: 6/16/08 at 12:34pm

As it was DISNEY got more exposure than anyone.
All three of their shows got plugs, THE LION KING got the opening, MERMAID got their spot and even MARY POPPINS got air time.

[LePetiteFromage]

Posted: 6/16/08 at 12:37pm

Updated On: 5/3/09 at 12:37 PM

[into_the_woods2]

Posted: 6/16/08 at 12:44pm

i too was upset at both TLM and ACA performances. So what if they didn't get nominated for best musical?! I think they should have gone all out anyway. It was awkward, to say the least.

[SporkGoddess]

Posted: 6/16/08 at 12:47pm

Sierra's good, but she belts the song too much for me. I'm sorry, but between her and Jodi Benson--there's just no comparison.

[millie_dillmount]

Posted: 6/16/08 at 12:53pm

"TLM chick"

Sierra Boggess

"I really wish they should have done Under The Sea. That number, while it doesn't have the best staging, would have come off better on television."

"So what if they didn't get nominated for best musical?! I think they should have gone all out anyway."

These were only musical highlights, so each performance was shortened and used limited sets, props, and cast members. None of the highlighted shows performed the bigger production numbers. Why haul out huge set pieces and organize the entire cast for a couple minute highlight? It was more feasible to perform the numbers they did.

The Tonys ended at exactly 11, so if they performed any longer, they would've gone overtime, which producers were trying to avoid. It made sense to go the route each of the shows did by performing the less "showy" numbers. Also, first priority should be given to the best musical nominated shows, no matter how good or bad they are or how much they deserved it.


"Nothing about the TLM segment is going to sell tickets. They should have had more time and done 'Under the Sea.'"

The Little Mermaid is also one of the higher grossing shows on Broadway, so struggling to sell tickets is not a concern right now, so I don't think the performance will have a huge influence on sales. The Little Mermaid will continue to sell tickets regardless of the quality of the performance on the Tonys.

https://www.broadwayworld.com/grossesshow.cfm?show=THE%20LITTLE%20MERMAID

Updated On: 6/16/08 at 12:53 PM

[Dancin Thru Life]

Posted: 6/16/08 at 12:54pm

Yep...last nights chance to shine for TLM was just bad.

From the vocals, to the lack of any set or props, to that rediculous costume, it did little to further it's cause. Not to mention it was the same ole "same ole" thing we see everytime TLM makes a public appearance!

Do you think the Producers were told to only show her from the wasit up so as to avoid everyone focusing in on her ever -visible LEGS and heelies???

I agree. Disappointing showing for TLM and Sierra.

[Becoz_i_knew_you21]

Posted: 6/16/08 at 12:57pm

The whole Little Mermaid/A Catered Affair/YF thing was horrible. Each number got very little time so it came out awkward, and I think it was overall a waste of time.

[Jon]

Posted: 6/16/08 at 1:00pm

I always enjoy hearing "Part of Your World" because I can sing "Somewhere That's Green" on top of it!

[NDR]

Posted: 6/16/08 at 1:02pm

I expected a lot more from the performance. Lion King was certainly more interesting and that's been around for 10 years now.

Sierra looked uncomfortable and the whole thing was awkward.
They blew their chance to make the show legit with theatre audiences and not just the kiddies.

[SwtHrtBallerina]

Posted: 6/16/08 at 1:04pm

Yea, I was disappointed with Sierra's performance as well. It was very lackluster compared to some of the other performances. I wish they would've had a song (under the sea) with more cast members.

[millie_dillmount]

Posted: 6/16/08 at 1:07pm

"They blew their chance to make the show legit with theatre audiences and not just the kiddies."

What? The Little Mermaid is immensely popular with families, and the show is not having an issue with ticket sales. "Kiddies" and their families make up its theatre audience. Each show on Broadway has its own unique audience - there is no specific definition as to who makes it up.

Updated On: 6/16/08 at 01:07 PM

[LePetiteFromage]

Posted: 6/16/08 at 1:11pm

Updated On: 5/3/09 at 01:11 PM

[CurtainPullDowner]

Posted: 6/16/08 at 1:15pm

All shows NEED to sell tickets and have a healthy advance.
THE LITTLE MERMAID is the fastest DISNEY show to appear on TKTS, even TARZAN waited longer.

[Dancin Thru Life]

Posted: 6/16/08 at 1:16pm

"I always enjoy hearing "Part of Your World" because I can sing "Somewhere That's Green" on top of it!"

OMG, JON!

I thought I was the only one who does that EVERY time I hear that song! LOL

Maybe the ultimate solution would have been for Ellen Greene to play Ariel! HAHA!

Updated On: 6/16/08 at 01:16 PM

[millie_dillmount]

Posted: 6/16/08 at 1:21pm

"I meant it wasn't going to draw in any new crowds to TLM or any other show."

But it continues to draw families...it doesn't need a "new" crowd if it continually draws in families who shell out money to see it and fill the theater. And that performance alone isn't going to turn people away from seeing Broadway shows - hopefully people are smart enough to take into account the other performances on the telecast and other shows. Also, you did say "Nothing about the segment will sell tickets..." which is why I brought up the issue of ticket sales.

"All shows NEED to sell tickets and have a healthy advance.
THE LITTLE MERMAID is the fastest DISNEY show to appear on TKTS, even TARZAN waited longer."

Well of course I know they NEED to sell tickets. I was saying that they aren't having an issue selling tickets right now. And if you check out the grosses, CurtainPullDowner, you will see that Little Mermaid is one of the higher grossing shows on Broadway, and only dipped below 80% capacity a couple of times. So regardless of how fast it appeared on TKTS, it still seems to be selling extremely well and bringing money in (and selling better than Tarzan?):

https://www.broadwayworld.com/grossesshow.cfm?show=THE%20LITTLE%20MERMAID

The lowest gross it brought in just this year was $832,619 and it has reached above the $1 million mark quite a few times.

Updated On: 6/16/08 at 01:21 PM

[LePetiteFromage]

Posted: 6/16/08 at 1:25pm

Updated On: 5/3/09 at 01:25 PM

[millie_dillmount]

Posted: 6/16/08 at 1:35pm

Fromage, I can read, and in your original post, you addressed only the Little Mermaid, and later went on to continue how it didn't represent Broadway well. You keep jumping back and forth between talking about the segment ("They might has well have not done the segment, it was so poor...") and the actual Little Mermaid clip.

As for the segment, no, it wasn't a good representation of the non-nominated shows, but again, it made more sense than doing bigger production numbers. If this segment was such a bland representation of the shows, would it have been better to cut this segment out? Perhaps, but keep in mind producers wanted to increase ratings (which ultimately it didn't). I, too, would have liked to see Little Mermaid do "Under the Sea" or Young Frankenstein do "Transylvania Mania."


ETA: They need to find ways to keep bringing families back to shows, not necessarily finding a brand new audience. Not sure if that is what you mean Fromage when you mentioned bringing "new people." Anyways, yes, I agree, the economy is horrible right now (I'm even having trouble finding a summer job), so although Little Mermaid is doing exceptionally well, it must take the declining economy into account to keep attracting their base audience.

Updated On: 6/16/08 at 01:35 PM

[LePetiteFromage]

Posted: 6/16/08 at 1:39pm

Updated On: 5/3/09 at 01:39 PM

[millie_dillmount]

Posted: 6/16/08 at 1:42pm

Fromage: I was using the word segment to refer to the entire montage of shows (Mermaid, Affair, Frankenstein). If it is "not just about TLM" as you say, shouldn't we include those shows as well?

ETA: The 60 second performance of just Mermaid, in my opinion, isn't enough to generalize Broadway...you need to look at all the performances together.

Updated On: 6/16/08 at 01:42 PM

[LePetiteFromage]

Posted: 6/16/08 at 1:48pm

Updated On: 5/3/09 at 01:48 PM

[Jonny boy]

Posted: 6/16/08 at 1:51pm

I found Meghan Malully's(sp) performance the worst of the night. Her voice is like scratching on a chalk board...

I love to watch Sierra usually but I will have to admit that she did seem a little glazed over......

[millie_dillmount]

Posted: 6/16/08 at 2:04pm

"When I said "new," I didn't mean or infer they needed to find a different target audience. I meant new, as in families and Disney fans who hadn't seen the show and this would be their first exposure to the show."

I agree with you here.

-----------------------------

But I still don't understand why CurtainPullDowner thinks it is an issue that Mermaid was on TKTS faster than Tarzan. Comparing the grosses, Tarzan did worse.

In 2007, from January through the beginning July, Tarzan only grossed $15,486,403. This year, from January until now, Little Mermaid already grossed $22,452,956. It already made about $7 million more than Tarzan in a shorter amount of time. Since Tarzan was open longer, it grossed more, but Little Mermaid seems to be selling faster than Tarzan was, and ultimately I think it will gross more. Tarzan only reached the million mark once, while Mermaid has already done so a few times. In addition, the average ticket price and top ticket prices for Little Mermaid are higher than Tarzan's.

Just because Little Mermaid appeared on TKTS faster, as you said, doesn't mean it is doing that bad (if that is what you were implying). Although the show is doing exceptionally well, it isn't selling out every performance.

If you are interested in checking out Tarzan's grosses:
https://www.broadwayworld.com/grossesshow.cfm?show=TARZAN